We hear that…

A CHINESE fish is top of the Maryland Fisheries Service's most-wanted list. "Have you seen this fish", reads a poster put up by the service. The villain is a northern snakehead, a metre-long predator native to China that can survive out of water for days and "walk" using its pectoral fins. One was found near a Maryland pond, much to the dismay of local officials. It may have escaped from the local fish market or someone's aquarium.

"If you come across this fish PLEASE DO NOT RELEASE. Please KILL this fish by cutting/bleeding as it can survive out of water for several days," the poster warns. The officials fear that if there are any more escapees, they could start breeding, with serious consequences for the local ecosystem.

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